IDWBE -Chapter 405 Rendering Meritorious Service

Those with higher martial skills—or those too poor to afford replacing damaged weapons—were reluctant to use their blades. If a sword chipped, they would have to pay for a new one themselves!

So they simply smashed the ground with their fists.

The most miserable were the men of the Military Command. While they pounded the pavement without hesitation, their hearts ached—once the ground was ruined like this, it would be their responsibility to repair it afterward!

Doing the labor was not the issue. The real question was: where would the money come from to fix it?

The Military Command was currently as poor as ghosts!

Worst of all, if the repairs were not done properly, the blame would still fall on them.

There was no winning on either side.

This was outright bullying!

Before long, a long trench had been smashed open in front of Apricot Blossom House, exposing a water channel filled with sludge and filthy water.

“Sir, there are footprints in the mud below—and… two female corpses,”

Jiang Yi stepped before Wei Yishan and said, “The culprit must have escaped along the canal!”

Wei Yishan snorted coldly. “Then what are you waiting for? Chase!”

“Yes!”

After a thunderous response, Cao Xiaohuan shoved through the crowd and was the first to squeeze into the narrow canal that could only fit one person.

One by one, officers and constables followed behind her.

The moonlight was hazy.

Tang Yi sat on a stone, watching as figures leapt out of the canal like fish. He merely smiled without speaking.

An old man covered in mud also stared at Tang Yi, who was surrounded by torches. At last, he spoke first:

“So it was you. Youth does not last long; our temples have already turned gray. Tang Yi, they said you had grown old—I did not believe it. Now that I see you, it is indeed so.”

“Many years have passed, yet Your Excellency still delights in poetry. Admirable, admirable,”

Tang Yi clapped and laughed. “It is a pity Your Excellency’s memory fails you. Have you forgotten how I came to Ankang City?”

Because of eight hundred taels of silver!

Escorted all the way from Qizhou to Ankang City, enduring endless humiliation!

At the thought, he ground his teeth in anger.

“So it truly is Prime Minister Qi,”

The Twelfth Prince had not dared confirm it before. Hearing Qi Yong speak, he finally cupped his hands and said, “Prime Minister, you have made us search so hard. I have missed you dearly. Please, come with me.”

Qi Yong ignored the Twelfth Prince and spoke only to Tang Yi.

“I remember when you taught us poetry. You once said: in composing verse, one must create something from nothing—close yet not superficial, distant yet not exhausted—so that the charm beyond the rhyme may emerge. I have always believed that being a man and an official should be the same.”

Tang Yi smiled. “And yet your frantic flight proves that in life and office, one must never push matters to the extreme.”

Qi Yong glanced at Zhu Ruorong and the others holding torches and snorted.

“I admire you for still guessing my whereabouts. But with just these few men, you think you can keep me?”

Tang Yi replied calmly, “When the master sets a poetic line, it must first seem off-topic—release before gathering. The method is called ‘letting the horse loose, then reining it in.’ Prime Minister, feel free to try.”

“Then do not blame me for being discourteous. Tonight, we shall settle who is superior.”

With that, the men climbing out of the canal charged toward Tang Yi with swords raised.

Before Tang Yi could issue orders, Zhu Ruorong and the others rushed forward with wooden staves.

Just as Zhu Ruorong lifted his stick to strike, the burly man before him suddenly collapsed. Then he saw Cao Xiaohuan’s face.

Only one thought flashed in his mind: The credit is gone.

He might even be punished!

Acting without authorization and being caught red-handed—there would be no good outcome.

He glanced at the equally sour-faced Prince Yong’an and felt reassured.

Though poor, the prince was taller than him. If trouble came, the prince would surely bear it.

When Lord He Jixiang questioned them, he and Butcher Jiang could simply claim ignorance.

—

Lin Yi had finished two pots of tea at the roadside stall when He Hong rode up and briefly reported the situation.

“The Twelfth?” Lin Yi laughed. “He certainly likes meddling. That rascal—he deserves a beating.”

He Hong said, “Your Highness, Prince Yong’an is on his way here. As for Tang Yi—how should he be dealt with?”

Lin Yi replied, “I will not bury talent. Though he is the Twelfth’s maternal grandfather, he is no fool. Since he is acquainted with Chen Desheng and He Jixiang, send him there and let them arrange it.”

He Hong bowed. “Your Highness is wise.”

As soon as he stepped aside, Prince Yong’an knelt with a thud in the same spot.

“Your subject-brother acknowledges his fault! Forgive me, Imperial Brother!”

Lin Yi smiled. “You captured Qi Yong. What crime is there?”

The Twelfth Prince said bitterly, “I was not certain we could capture him, so I dared not report to the authorities. If we mobilized everyone and failed, it would be false military reporting.”

“So you are innocent after all,” Lin Yi beckoned. “Rise. Come have tea with me.”

“I dare not.”

“You dare disobey me?”

“Yes.”

Reluctantly, the Twelfth rose and sat beside him, pouring tea personally.

“To be fair, you have rendered merit this time,” Lin Yi said while drinking. “Tell me—what reward do you want?”

“To ease Imperial Brother’s burdens is my greatest blessing.”

After a moment’s thought, Lin Yi asked, “What if I appoint you Director of the Imperial Clan Court?”

“I dare not! I am unworthy of such responsibility!”

Moreover, since stipends for the imperial clan had been abolished, the Clan Court was little more than a shell. What benefit was there?

Lin Yi chuckled. “There is a salary each month. Still unwilling?”

“Salary?” The Twelfth’s eyes lit up. Then he hesitated. “But there are many elders in the clan. How could I speak over them?”

He loved money—but valued his life more.

The previous director had been beaten to death by his own imperial brother!

“Elders?” Lin Yi sneered. “I’ve spared their lives—that’s already generous. They still want my salary? Dream on.”

“What about Sixth Brother?”

“I have other uses for him. You will assume office tomorrow. Anyone you dislike—deal with them harshly. If you can find grounds to confiscate property, even better. We split it ninety-one.”

“Imperial Brother is wise!”

Since clan stipends were abolished, many relatives had stirred trouble—even hiring scholars to compose verses slandering Lin Yi.

And they were wealthy: vast estates, concubines in droves, hundreds of servants, granaries and vaults overflowing.

If their crimes were examined seriously, none would be innocent.

Confiscation? It was like picking up silver from the ground!

Lin Yi added, “Confiscation requires evidence. Once you seize the silver, sentencing is the Three Judicial Offices’ affair. Do not interfere.”

Previously, confiscations were handled by Gan Mao and Chen Jingzhi. Yet the silver always ended up diverted by He Jixiang and Chen Desheng for military expenses.

Not a single coin reached his own purse.

Now he understood why his father had kept the imperial treasury separate from the state treasury.

Public funds were not the same as personal funds.

He was so poor he could barely pay his guards.

His wife was about to give birth—son or daughter, either way required money.

He only wanted to make money!

“Rest assured,” the Twelfth vowed, “I will not disappoint you.”

After a pause, Lin Yi added, “Your grandfather is a capable man. In the future, listen to his counsel. Do not act rashly.”

The Twelfth pondered—was this encouragement or warning?

He could not tell.

“Withdraw,” Lin Yi said.

—

Back at his residence, the Twelfth waited long before Tang Yi returned from the Five Army Command.

“Grandfather, what did General He say?”

Tang Yi smiled. “Effective immediately, I am appointed Administrator of the Censorate.”

“A mere ninth rank? They underestimate you!”

Tang Yi shook his head. “Though the rank is low, the authority is weighty—overseeing supervision, auditing delays, canceling cases, managing records. With a single brushstroke, I may sway court discipline. Prefects and generals alike must treat me with respect.”

“Then misfortune has turned to fortune?”

“Since I am valued by the Regent Prince, I must repay him unto death.”

The Twelfth repeated Lin Yi’s words and asked for guidance.

Tang Yi smiled. “Then tomorrow I shall move out. I dare not trouble Your Highness.”

“I still do not understand.”

“If the Regent tells you to heed my counsel, then heed it this once.”

He would temporarily reside at the Imperial Academy.

“Lord He intends to reopen the imperial examinations.”

“Incredible! My imperial brother detests scholars—how could he?”

Tang Yi lowered his voice. “Times have changed. Scholars have studied bitterly for years. If their path to advancement is cut off, they will defect to Gong Lianyi of Liangzhou or Prince Yong of Jinzhou.”

“The examination content will surely change,” the Twelfth muttered.

“Such matters are beyond me.”

“Will Qi Yong die?”

“Death may be spared, but punishment will not. His protégés and former subordinates fill the realm. He cannot be easily touched.”

“My imperial brother will never spare him,” the Twelfth insisted.

Tang Yi sighed. “You may not know the Regent well—but I know He Jixiang, Chen Desheng, and Qin Yang. Even at the cost of their own lives, they will stop him from killing Qi Yong.”

“Is Qi Yong that important? Apricot Blossom House was blown apart—the whole city knows. Can my brother endure such humiliation?”

“Otherwise, why would Qi Yong act so fearlessly?”

“Why?”

“Because he is Qi Yong.”

“That explains nothing.”

“You will understand in time.”

Tang Yi laughed heartily and left.

—

Early next morning, Lin Yi found Chen Desheng and He Jixiang kneeling by his dining table.

“You oppose me as well? You will not let me kill him?”

“Your Highness,” He Jixiang said loudly, “forbearance in small matters prevents the ruin of great plans!”

“Your Highness,” Chen Desheng echoed, “Qi Yong must not be killed!”

Lin Yi snorted coldly.

“I do not fear hundreds of thousands of Wadan troops. Must I fear a mere Qi Yong?”